Bury Under-18s kicked off their bid to retain the Football League North West Youth Alliance title with a hard-fought victory at Accrington Stanley.
Ryan Kidd's youth side secured maximum points but had to do it the hard way after being reduced to 10 men in the fifth minute.
Centre-back Matty Foulds, who scored a great goal to help Bury win the Lancashire FA Senior Cup in midweek, was given his marching orders after clipping the heels of an Accrington striker as he raced through on goal.
Bury were already in front at that point after George Miller found space in the box to slot home in the third minute.
Accrington quickly made their man advantage count, equalising after 14 minutes, but Rob Bourne put the Shakers youth back in front with a curving free kick on the half hour.
The visitors rode their luck at times in the second half as Accrington saw one effort bounce back off the bar, but they held firm to get their bid to retain the title off to a winning start.
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